Make the Perfect Onboarding Video for Your New Hires: 5 Examples and Onboarding Template Scripts You Can Use

We can absorb images 60,000 times faster than text. Plus, a study by Microsoft shows the average human has an attention span of 8.25 seconds, half of what it was 15 years ago. But how does this affect your company's onboarding process? Let's just say that an onboarding video is worth more than a million words. 

Onboarding processes contain a load of information— about the job, company culture, team, and role. New hires have a lot to absorb, sometimes in short periods. But how do you ensure that employees get equipped with the correct information? And how do you ensure that they are also engaged and motivated for their new start in your company?

This article will show you how to include videos in your onboarding process and start ditching the never-ending pdf files. 

🎬 What is an onboarding video?

Onboarding videos are a tool used by businesses to help new employees learn about:

• the company
• their position
• performance expectations. 

Onboarding videos can be either live-action or animated. The contents will vary depending on the company and the position, but they often include:

• an overview of the company's history, values, and products,
• a tour of the facilities,
• an introduction to the team,
• a description of their job role. 

Pro Tip: An onboarding video can help new employees understand their role within the company more quickly than an employee role sheet.

❓ Why should you use video in onboarding?

Here are a few data-backed reasons that show why videos are ideal for the onboarding process:

Videos offer a human connection

When new hires read an onboarding pdf, they don't know who is speaking to them. Anyone could have written that document– making it a very impersonal transaction. What makes a video different?

• New hires know precisely who it is on the other end, which works incredibly well for smaller companies as these videos feature the founder or a manager. 
• The company can humanize itself and show new employees that there are real people behind the brand. 
• The new hires could be watching a video made by someone who has just interviewed them, ensuring a sense of familiarity and connection.

➡️ Onboarding videos top our 17 exciting ideas to make employee onboarding fun. Discover the other 16.

Videos are customizable and engaging 

Everyone has the same problem with corporate speech: no matter the company, it's the same jargon focused on organizational goals rather than a positive employee experience. No wonder, more often than not, traditional onboarding processes fail to engage employees.

While there are a thousand ways to film and edit a video, there isn't much entertaining you can do with a company document. However, even if the tone of a video needs to be serious, you can add animations and quick scene changes to ensure your new hire is still tuned in. 

Videos explain better than text

An onboarding video has a few advantages over text-based tutorials as a knowledge-sharing method. 

• It can be challenging to pay attention to a long block of text, but watching a video is much more visually stimulating. 
• Onboarding videos can target the viewer's level of expertise. If someone is a complete beginner, they can watch a video that starts from the very beginning. Others can skip ahead to advanced sections.
• Videos can provide clear visual instructions that are easy to follow and can be paused and rewatched as needed. 
• Videos can convey complex information more effectively than text, making them ideal for explaining procedures that involve multiple steps.

Pro Tip: Consider your remote workers, who would not have the opportunity to establish in-person connections to your workplace. Use video onboarding to enhance your virtual onboarding.

📽 What types of onboarding videos are there?

Intro by founder

An intro by founder onboarding video typically features the company's founder or CEO narrating the company's story. An introduction by the founder onboarding video can make new employees feel like a new chapter of the story in just a few minutes. 

Traditional orientation videos tended to be full of dry corporate information. In contrast, the introduction by the founder onboarding video is more energetic and personal. 

Company history 

A company history onboarding video provides an overview of the company's milestones and accomplishments. This is a way of setting standards with new hires. 

Additionally, a company history onboarding video can give new employees a better understanding of their role. 

A day in the life

A "day in the life" style video gives new employees a preview of their day-to-day working life. Having these insights can be particularly helpful during the preboarding stage. 

For example, the video might start with the employee arriving at the office and clocking in. The rest of the video could cover various aspects of the workday, such as taking breaks, attending meetings, and interacting with colleagues. 

Tool tutorials

An onboarding video can teach employees how to use tools and complete tasks. This kind of video provides clear, step-by-step instructions. 

For example, an onboarding video for a software application might show you how to create an account, navigate the interface, and perform basic tasks.

Pro Tip: The primary purpose of this kind of video is to reduce frustration by teaching new hires how to use a new tool or system they are unfamiliar with.

🏢 4 Onboarding video examples from other companies

The perfect onboarding video will give new hires a fair idea of the company culture before it does anything else. Here are five companies that have pulled that off successfully.

Zappos

Zappos offers a refreshingly realistic view of their company by featuring the employees. The footage is raw, with no paid actors in sight. The soundtrack is also very simple, allowing the viewers to concentrate fully on the content.

What we like best is there are no zoomed-out shots of a shiny office lobby or fancy interiors. Instead, they focus on the people who influence an office environment.

👠 Learn more about Zappos' unique onboarding process in our detailed case study.

Google

Google follows the same strategy of employee testimonials, soundtracked by simple music. This proves that this raw video format does not result from budget cuts or time restrictions. Google has both time and money, so this is not why companies want to refrain from displaying a larger-than-life version of what they do.

The video walks you through the first week on the job, with people from diverse backgrounds weighing in. 

👠 Learn more about Google's inspirational onboarding process in our detailed case study.

Dunkin Donuts

Dunkin Donuts' onboarding video is a perfect example of how you can reflect your customer values in how you treat your employees. It has an inspirational take, with a strong focus on motivating employees to see that they are the main faces of the brand.

A quote that stands out:

"In the end, remember there is no Dunkin without you. You are the friendly face behind the counter. You serve out guests with speed. You make all of our great products. Ultimately, it's you our customers come back to see every day."

As you can see, the focus is on speaking to employees directly. But, again, something like this would not have had the same effect if put on paper. Again, only a well-made video can do this.

What they also do differently is feature a few customers in their video. This added touch is relevant to what Dunkin does as a brand in hospitality.

Canva

Canva's onboarding video quickly highlights some of the benefits they provide. However, there is no fancy business jargon or talk about prospective long-term benefits. 

Instead, Canva shows us the tangible things it does for its employees. For example, they mention a chef that cooks them nutritious meals every day. Canva's onboarding video also shows a clip of everyone eating together. This is very appealing to younger people who are relocating to new cities. For an older demographic, Canva shows that they can bring kids into the workplace when needed. 

Essentially, Canva's onboarding video promotes the workplace as the ultimate package deal.

📈 Best practices for better onboarding videos

We have drafted a list of best practices for making engaging and effective onboarding videos.

Make them authentic

This means that the videos don't have to be too perfect. They can be raw and honest, which will help viewers connect with the content. 

Pro Tip: A video showing employees working together on a project, making mistakes, and celebrating their success will be more relatable and engaging than a polished, corporate-style video. 

Likewise, a video that introduces viewers to the company's culture by featuring employees sharing their personal stories will also be more impactful than a dry corporate video.

Use multiple short videos 

Overwhelming new hires with a massive amount of information can be counterproductive. Instead, it is best to use multiple smaller videos that cover different topics. This way, employees can:

• Watch the videos at their own pace. 
• Focus on the information that is most relevant to them.

Pro Tip: You could have one video on company history and another on benefits and policies. By using smaller and more targeted videos, you can provide employees with the information they need in a way that is easy for them to follow. 

Send out videos one-by-one

Sending out videos gradually allows employees to digest the information and complete the required tasks before moving on to the next video.

This one-by-one approach also allows managers to gauge employee understanding, for example, through a fast quiz. This ensures that employees are getting the most out of the onboarding process and are set up for success in their new roles.

⚙️ Tools you can use for onboarding videos

Loom

Loom is a program allowing users to record their screen and themselves simultaneously. The app is user-friendly, with a focus on providing a high-quality recording experience. 

The platform makes it easy to edit your onboarding video, so you can ensure it looks professional. For example:

• You can use Loom's built-in editor to add captions or annotations.
• You can export your video to another editing platform for more advanced editing. 
• Loom's sharing features allow you to share your video with specific team members or post it publicly so that anyone can view it. 

Videoask

The Videoask app allows you to record video questions and share them with your audience. You can also use the app to record video responses to questions that you receive.

Think of it as adding an interactive, personal touch to the FAQ section on your website. 

Ideally, use Videoask to:

• Create custom questions to gather feedback from your team.
• Ask personalized questions during the hiring process.
• Congratulate them on getting the job. 
• Track the performance during the onboarding process.

Youtube 

You can use Youtube for:

• Explaining topics such as the company history, mission statement, and key personnel.
• Creating training videos demonstrating how to perform specific tasks or use certain software platforms. 
• Introducing new hires to the company and explaining key policies. 

Your employees can rewatch YouTube videos to review important information as needed.

VEED

VEED is an online video editor that empowers users to effortlessly create and enhance videos with professional-grade tools.

Main features:

• Trim, cut, merge, and splice video clips with ease.
• Add engaging text overlays and subtitles to videos.
• Adjust audio levels, add background music, and remove unwanted noise.
• Adding image or logo watermarks.
• Apply and customize filters and effects to enhance visuals.
• Collaborate in real-time and share video projects.

Movavi Video Editor

Movavi Video Editor is a screen recorder and video editing software that helps record online meetings screen recordings, combine videos, cut videos, and merge videos. This tool helps to create an effective video from different online meetings.

Main features:

• Record online meetings.
• Merge and combine videos.
• Add subtitles and music to videos.
• Create movies.

Zavvy

You can use Zavvy to create onboarding journeys for new hires. Ideally, each employee should be assigned to journeys that:

1. Serve as an introduction to the company. 
2. Inform new hires about their respective job roles.
3. Set up goals and milestones.
4. Connect new hires to their peers and make them feel like they belong.
5. Set up a framework for career development. 

Combine Zavvy and onboarding videos in the following ways:

1. Embed images and videos as parts of your onboarding journeys. Zavvy makes it easy to embed videos you have created on other platforms into your onboarding process.
2. Input triggers that send your new hires the appropriate set of journeys. For example, you can set a trigger that sends company introduction videos and writing guidelines to new writers as they join your team. Zavvy sends them what they need to know automatically– so you don't have to repeat the same actions every time a new writer joins your team. 

📝 Onboarding template scripts you can use

You have the right tools to make your videos. You've gone through 5 examples of excellent onboarding videos that have worked for companies. Here's the last piece of the puzzle– the video script. We have prepared two templates for onboarding videos you can quickly produce yourself.

Buddy introduction video

Hi [new employee name], 

My name is [name], and I will be your onboarding buddy. You can expect to see me around [first x weeks/months]. I will be your go-to person for everything social, and I hope that I will make you feel at home as soon as possible.

To break the ice, here are five facts about me: 

[Ask the buddy to answer these questions and include them in the final script]: 

1. What is your role in the company?
2. How long have you been working for the company?
3.  What is your favorite part about working at [company name]? 
4. Share something you're proud of (not necessarily work-related).
5. Share a fun fact about yourself.

I am looking forward to showing you around the company! See you soon!

PS: I will be waiting for you at the reception on your first day! 

[PS for remote workers: We will have a meeting on your intro day to share more about my role in your onboarding process]. 

Welcome and Onboarding Process Overview 

Welcome to [company name]. As a new hire, you may be feeling a bit overwhelmed. Starting a new job is always a big transition, and it can be hard to know where to begin. Luckily, we've got you covered. 

Here's what you can expect:

The focus of your intro day will be to [examples: meet your team, set up your tools, meet your onboarding buddy, get an overview of your onboarding process].

OR

On your first day, you will [list activities]. [For example: First, you'll meet with your manager to discuss your role and expectations. This is a great time to ask any questions you may have about the job or the company.]

Starting a new job can be daunting, but you're not alone! We are here to help and support you every step of the way!

Again, we are happy you decided to join us, and we are excited to see you grow with us!

💡 Find all our onboarding templates here

💡 Onboarding video script examples

Video title: Onboarding Process Overview 

We're excited to have you on board, and we hope you're ready to start. Here's a quick overview of what you can expect during your first few days with us.

You'll meet with your supervisor on your first day and discuss your job duties. They'll also show you around the office and introduce you to the rest of the team. We like to keep things informal around here, so don't be afraid to ask questions or share your ideas.

The rest of your first week will familiarize you with our systems and procedures. We'll also give you some time to settle into your new surroundings. By the end of the week, you should feel comfortable and ready to start work on Monday morning.

We believe that happy employees are productive employees, so we try to create a fun and supportive work environment. We offer flexible hours, regular team bonding activities, and plenty of opportunities for career growth. We know it takes time to adjust to a new job, but we're confident you'll fit right in here.

Thanks again for joining us, and we look forward to seeing great things from you in the future.

Video title: Welcome and short company introduction

Welcome to Zavvy! We are happy that you chose to become a part of our story and are excited about what we will achieve together!

Zavvy came to life in some of the most turbulent times related to work. When definitions of modes of work and work ideals are shifting dramatically, our co-founders Joshua and Mehmet saw more than just a business opportunity but a chance to make a difference in the employee experience. 

Remote and hybrid work models are here to stay. Employees are looking for more in an employer than just money. Moreover, technologies are drastically shortening the half-life of skills. All of this means that organizations have to rethink the way they foster collaboration, growth, and culture. We want to help with that!

We want to equip innovative companies with a tool kit for running an inspiring and people-centric organization. But we don't stop here. We want to provide better employee experiences. We want to empower employees to learn, grow and connect!

Welcome to Zavvy, the employee enablement company!

➡️ Videos alone are not enough to make your onboarding process great

While videos can be a helpful tool for conveying information and helping employees to get orientated, they should not be relied upon exclusively. 

Onboarding is most effective when it leverages:

• Structure - a clear step-by-step journey with key milestones, KPIs, etc.  
• Learning opportunities - with training, mentoring, microlearning, etc.
• Buddies - that focus on social and cultural integration.
• Tasks and checklists. 

Zavvy offers the best solution for businesses looking to streamline their onboarding process. Combine all your information in one place and create one consistent structure.

Run powerful workflows that engage new hires for months and automatically connect them to their peers, relevant content, video tutorials, to dos and much more.

Zavvy is the star of your onboarding toolbox.‍

Book a free demo with our consultants to find out more about the power of Zavvy for your organization.